HC Deb 22 October 1953 vol 518 c306W
Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education her estimates of the numbers of new school places and of additional teachers required to provide adequately for the rising school population, to replace all blacklisted schools, and to reduce the size of primary classes to a maximum of 40, and of secondary classes to a maximum of 30, pupils.

Miss Horsbrugh

The First Report of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers includes some very rough estimates of the numbers of teachers needed for each year up to 1960 if the staffing standards of 1950 are to be maintained as the school population increases. But not only is the size and composition of the school population continually changing, but its geographical distribution is being continually affected by new housing, etc.

Any estimate of the number of teachers or school places required for meeting special needs must vary with the date upon which it is assumed that these needs will be met, and, the further ahead one looks, would depend on increasingly speculative assumptions as to probable future movements of population on account of new housing, etc. In some cases movements of population and other changes may result in existing unsatisfactory buildings becoming redundant.

No estimates have therefore been drawn up on the lines suggested in the Question.

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